Ruy held the paper in the light, trying to figure out how Trix wrote the dots above his i's so he could replicate them perfectly. Nour was the best forger, but Ruy used to forge Gisela's signature on trade documents so the recruits could get booze and actually good food. And then Ruy could steal it for himself.

Trix, the stupid prick, had a very specific handwriting style that Ruy simply couldn't replicate. Ruy would have to find another way to complete his plan. Ruy stood, stretching his arms above his head as he yawned. Dom and Hathem were off somewhere probably sucking face. They would have privacy since most of the Castello was still in Cariana finishing training.

Ruy decided he wanted to take another round around the castle, trying to memorize every secret he could see. from the few people still in the Castello, it sounds like Vespera has returned from a trip today. Ruy was still yet to see her, however. It was unlike her. But it didn't feel like she was avoiding him. It's like he simply wasn't on her list of But she needed him for something; he wouldn't be here just because she missed him. Ruy didn't exactly want to go seeking her out either. So doing his own thing and playing it by ear seemed like the best option.

Once he took his second round through the lower levels, he worked up to the massive courtyard. This is where Mansi, Nour, and Sophie riled up the crowds enough to escape when they were children from what he knows.

"Shh, he'll hear you!" A familiar voice hushed from the corner of the courtyard. Ruy stiffened, carefully pulling aside the shrubbery and staring at Seamus huddled near the ground. His uniform was crisply ironed but covered with dirt from squatting behind the bushes. His curly blond hair didn't match the cleanliness of his uniform and porcelain skin.

"Uh, what are you-" Ruy froze at the sight of two paws sticking out from underneath Seamus's jacket. Two paws that looked very familiar.

"What is that?" Ruy pointed to the paws.

Seamus's eyes tremored as he pursed his lips, "It's- uh, those are-" A meow cut him off.

Ruy straightened, "Open your jacket, Seamus."

"Well, take me to dinner first." Seamus awkwardly laughed, his voice squeaky.

"Seamus, open the jacket."

"No! They'll hurt her!"

"Seamus!" Seamus cringed when Ruy raised his voice, and he immediately felt awful. But Seamus silently opened the zipper of his jacket. And a kitten peaked out, big hazel eyes staring at him.

It was a mix of browns, cremes, and pure white. Its ears, paws, and tail were big for its size, but it was still pretty young. Ruy stared at Seamus in disbelief.

"I found her when I was scouting near Renusancha. I asked the locals about her, I had trouble understanding them because of their accents. But it seems like having big fluffy cats was a trend for a while among those nobles in Ranisancha, or however you say it. She was abandoned after her owners got over the trend."

Ruy was too lazy to correct him on his pronunciation of the Inalian city and too busy glaring at the cat. He finally placed where he recognized it when he saw the faint red staining the white fur poking out from her paws—the same red of the slime on that tree in Cariana.

"That's the animal that nearly took my face off in Cariana. In the jungle!" Ruy scrambled away from the cat, remembering the terror of watching the wild animal flying for his face. Seamus shushed Ruy, tucking the cat closer to his chest.

"Shh- SHH! She stowed away on our ship when we left. When we deboarded she followed me off the ship but got spooked and ran into the forest! I only got the red goo off her paws last night."

Ruy wasn't really listening. The intense stink eye he was giving the cat required all of his brain cells.

"Ruy, please, promise me you won't say anything. Please. I'll do anything." Now that got Ruy's attention. He crossed his arms, glancing around to make sure no one was listening.

"Anything, you say?"

Seamus didn't even realize his mistake, "Yeah, sure, anything."

Ruy looked at the cat, then to Seamus, then back to the cat. Okay. It seems like allying with Dom and Hathem wasn't in the cards, but Seamus could be useful.

"Meet me at the basement storeroom at midnight, and then I'll think about staying quiet. And keep that thing out of my room."

Dex polished the small silver ball, quickly shuffling to the front where Wylie Endal leaned against the counter.

"Here you go, man. You break that thing a lot you know. I know it's a stress ball, but it is kinda fragile. Maybe get a more sturdy one?" Dex said, handing the ball to Wylie. He shrugged, squeezing it once or twice.

"I only like the denseness of this one. And you make it release a smell I like that no one else can replicate."

Dex shrugged as he wiped his hands off, "It's just a simple scent I picked up from that lady down the street. Fresh rain or something. But I'm glad I've made a returning customer out of you. If you don't mind me asking, why are you so stressed? Is the Council working you that hard?"

"No, surprisingly. I've just been working with the studying physician students since not a lot of them are flashers. Just the occasional call from disgruntled med students. But I've been getting overwhelmed by the smallest things. And don't even get me started on the headaches. This is the only thing that calms me down sometimes." Wylie tossed it around a little bit before sliding his stress ball into his bag. He tapped his small green cube against the register, transferring credits before waving goodbye. Dex watched him go before sighing and starting to clean up the counter. He got his own shop only a few blocks away from Slurps & Burps. He makes small inventions and helps tinker with everyday objects people bring in.

There was the gentle patter of rain outside. It made Dex think back to that tower in Inalia. He was in that tower for a while, but the patter of rain was something he distinctly remembered. It made the smell of rosemary and lemon verbena that much stronger. If Dex had never traveled to Inalia, he never would've noticed that Sophie smelt the same way. Always the faintest scent of rosemary or lemons. He could never reason why.

He never did apologize to her, did he? Though he believed he deserved at least something of an apology as well, Dex really stepped over a line when he was arguing with her. Blindly insulting her family was unjust. And though he was still uncomfortable with the whole assassin thing, he kept repeating that the Vatarian way of life is different from his.

He bonked his head on his counter right as new people walked in. He groaned as he got up, rubbing the back of his head, "Welcome! Sorry for the mess, still moving in and cleaning up of sorts-" His mother wrapped her arms around him, squeezing so tight she nearly killed him.

"Aw, look at you! With your own shop! You're all grown up!" Juline crossed her arms, "I don't know why you didn't continue to the Silver levels of Foxfire though, like the rest of your friends."

"Oh, mom, please don't start this."

"You could've been nobility! Had a swanky new name and a rad circlet!"

"Swanky? Rad? Mom, what on earth-"

"What? It's hip!"

"Maybe when you were young in ye olden days."

Juline crossed her arms, "Psh, fine. I'll just be the cranky boring mom since you're too cool for me."

Dex put his hands up in defeat, chuckling a bit, "Fair enough."

Dex hadn't even noticed his father enter his shop. Kesler was poking around the trinkets in the window display, humming in appreciation.

"Whatcha think?" Kesler jumped at his son's voice, even though he was in his store. Juline took a deep breath, "Your father has been a bit jumpy since the Matchmakers."

Dex tripped a bit when she said that. Had something happened? Another Neverseen attack? Those have been pretty under control ever since Sophie left for Inalia though, what could have happened? Wait, the triplets were right around the age to get their first scrolls. Were they incompatible because of Kesler? Shit, he personally never registered for that reason.

"I can already see your mind going crazy, Dex. No, the triplets are fine. They miss their big brother, but besides that, they're fine."

Dex's shoulders relaxed, "Well, then, what's going on?"

Kesler and Juline glanced at each other, "All couples who were deemed unmatchable due to ability incompatibilities or simply talentless, well, we were all sent a message on our imparters." Kesler pulled up the message before handing it to Dex.

Dex just blinked at the imparter, his mouth dangling open. The matchmaking process has never changed, not once, over the thousands of years of Elven existence. Yet all of a sudden, they make such a drastic change out of the blue with no warning?

"Your father still thinks it is some kind of prank." Juline snorted.

"Oh don't give me that Juline. This is crazy! The matchmakers are changing their rules! That has never happened, once, ever!"

"I know that, but I'm not going to complain about it!"

Kesler grumbled as he pocketed his imparter, distrust apparent in his eyes.

Dex leaned forward on his counter, smiling at his parents. They deserved this. Though love was no limitation in their house, the BAD MATCH seemed to loom over the Dizznee family for far too long.

"Well, I agree with mom. This seems like a great thing!" Dex smiled as Juline linked an arm with her husband, who rubbed the back of his neck.

"Maybe I am being a bit paranoid."

Dex smiled, grabbing a cloth from beneath the counter and wiping away some oil that began to stain the birch wood, "Though I don't love your visits, I was coming over for dinner tonight. I would've found out about the Matchmakers one way or another."

Juline pouted, "You see that? Now that he has moved out he is over us. Hates us, even!"

"Mom, that's unfair and you know it."

Kesler interjected, "Your friends are actually at Slurps & Burps. They caught us on our way out and asked us where you were. We said we were gonna stop by the boutique near your shop but we could leave a message for you." Kesler leaned forward, "It seemed desperate."

Dex looked at his mother.

"Black Swan?" He mouthed, wondering if it had something to do with his mother's rebel group. But she shook her head.

"It seems like a personal matter." Was all she said. They both waved as they left the store, trying to keep the visit short and sweet.

A little earlier than normal, Dex closed up shop and quickly made his way to Slurps & Burps. He slid his emergency key into the lock and tried to remain as diligent as possible. It seems this meeting was without the Council's knowledge, and he wanted to keep it that way. He heard their whispering voices upstairs, leaving his imparter and other devices downstairs, just to make sure no one was tapping into them.

Dex opened the door, ready for some awful, miserable news. But Keefe's casual laugh made Dex double take.

"Holy shit-" Dex pushed open the door all the way, everyone in the small room jumping.

"Dexinator!" Keefe laughed as he hugged Dex.

"When the hell did you get here man? We've been worried sick!"

"The Neverseen got me after the Conference. I was cooped up with, guess this, Ruy Ignis."

Dex cringed at the name. He may still not like him, but Sophie trusted him.

"How did that happen?" Dex asked. The crew looked at one another, and Biana shuffled a bit on the couch, patting for him to take a seat.

"Keefe has been filling us in. The Assassins are struggling from what we know." Fitz sighed.

Dex awkwardly sat down next to Biana, his spine as stiff as a board as Keefe flopped into a chair.

"Well, now that we are all here, I guess I should start from the beginning."

The simple things in life are what Sophie truly enjoyed. Even though the boat's swaying did nothing to help the Nilfa blood that poisoned her, the cream-colored sheets were so soft. As if they were weaved from the clouds themselves. And the perfume that still clung to Maha as she carefully tried to patch her up was a bit less overwhelming, now a sweet song of scent. Or maybe that was her sense of smell going away.

"I can't just pull the poison out like the Nifla, it would harm you. But once I do get it all out, you should recover quickly."

Sophie's tongue felt like a sponge in her mouth. She just smiled a bit, stuffing her head further into her pillow. Her eyes struggled to remain open, but she could see her long hair splayed over the sheets. She missed her blonde, to be honest. Red hair didn't fit her the same way that golden blonde did. She liked to brush it and braid it, watch it grow longer with each day.

And every time she looked at the red staining her strands, she kept imagining her father's blood dripping down it.

No, she didn't like the red one bit.

"Amalia, did you hear me?" Sophie weakly turned her head to Maha, giggling slightly as her friend's fingers grazed against the dip of her hip.

"Aw, he loves to hold me there." Sophie giggled, her toes curling. Maha stopped, her hands pulling the Nilfa blood out of her system frozen in the air.

"H-Huh?" Maha stuttered.

Sophie cocked an eyebrow, "Ruy, you silly goose. He wraps his arms around my waist when he thinks no one is looking. He'll even place a kiss on my cheek or under my ear if I'm lucky." Sophie glanced out the small porthole window, past Maha's face of pure shock, to look at the rising sun.

"Is it morning time? I should go train, a-and I also should pick up the groceries. I want to get the good veggies before that jerk Ulca gets them. He is my neighbor, you know? I think Ulca's little boy has a crush on Lilac actually-"

"Amalia, back up. What were you saying about Ruy?"

Sophie pouted, "What about him?"

"Wait, are you and Ruy seeing each other?"

"Psh, yeah. I've been crazy about him for... gods, I don't think I even know. The last couple of weeks back though, that is when we admitted it and had all that confessional bullshit- you know, I think I first started getting all giddy about him when he first memorized how I like my coffee. Every morning after training, I would go into the kitchens for a snack. He was always in there, helping Filomena with the morning breakfast rush. And he always made my coffee just how I like it."

Sophie tried to take a deep breath, hoping for the salty air, but instead got the taste of metal as she coughed. Maha held her down as she carefully pulled more blood out of her system.

"Maha, I don't like that- it hurts." Sophie whispered.

"The poison is making your tongue loose. I'm just trying to get you back to normal before you say something you regret."

"I don't regret anything about Ruy."

Maha remained quiet, "Have you gone on a date?"

Sophie tried to remember the softness of her sheets once again as she nodded, "He brought me to a concert in Paris, the human city I was hidden in after the Fall. It was two of my favorite bands. We got crepes, got a little tipsy, ran away from some cops. Truly a man of romance, that one." Sophie continued to ramble, trying to fight the pain growing in her abdomen, "We haven't gotten the chance to go on a second one, but I want to go somewhere fancy. I even asked Maria to make me a cute little dress for it. I was planning on asking him after the Conference."

"Really? What did you have in mind?" Maha asked, flicking her wrist as she sucked out a large glob of blue blood. Sophie knew Maha was asking to keep her distracted and curiosity getting the better of her, but she didn't mind talking. For once, her tongue was so loose, she didn't care what slipped.

"Palazo de Seirína. It's an amazing restaurant built in the cliffsides above the coast. Apparently, Maria and Filomena went there for their first date. My dress, I wanted it to be the sea-green of the ocean, with long pretty lace sleeves. Just like the ballerinas had in the magazines I looked at when I was little. I wanted it to be low cut as well, make Ruy squirm a bit. As revenge for all that flirting during missions when we probably shouldn't have been flirting."

Sophie swallowed the bile in her throat before continuing, "It would've gone to the floor. I like how long dresses tickle my legs when I walk and dance. Maria wanted to put a leg slit, but I was apprehensive. The dress was mostly her idea, even though she had no idea what it was for, she had to reassure me the whole time. I'm too tall and my muscles are too big. I thought my biceps would tear through the little lace sleeves I wanted, but Maria insisted. I have an hourglass figure of sorts, but never like the smooth-skinned girls in Renisanca. Or the petite hourglasses that the elves do. I thought it would make me look ugly, to have a dress like this. Or maybe we could go to a club in the human cities. I could wear that black body-con dress at the back of my closet. That one would be a bit more forgiving of my muscles-"